Jamahal Hill is reassessing his career path after his recent performance.
Following a lacklustre decision loss to Khalil Rountree at UFC Baku, the former light heavyweight champion extended his losing streak to three, marking the worst period of his career since April 2024. Hill was the main event fighter against Rountree in Azerbaijan and lost via an uninspired decision to his fellow contender.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hill reflected on the defeat, acknowledging that he hasn`t been performing at his peak and stressing the need for adjustments to regain his previous form.
“I know there was a lot said about my pre-fight comments claiming Khalil wasn`t on my level, a sentiment I`ve echoed in recent fights. But truthfully, I haven`t been performing at my own standard for a while now. I believe many people don`t fully appreciate the severity of the injuries I`ve faced and the difficulties I`ve had to overcome because of them.”
He continued, “An Achilles tear can be a career-ending injury for an athlete, often for many. When you add that to the other injuries I`ve sustained, like the knee tears from pushing myself to return too soon – I went against advice from my team and close associates who told me to take my time and recover properly. I feel I can`t ignore the impact of those choices any longer.”
The 34-year-old Hill previously won the vacant UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 283 by delivering a dominant performance against Glover Teixeira. However, just six months later, he was forced to relinquish the belt after tearing his Achilles tendon during a casual basketball game. His return fight at UFC 300 ended in a knockout loss to champion Alex Pereira, and he has not secured a victory since.
While Hill didn`t provide a specific timeline for his next bout, he stated his intention to take a break to fully recover from his injuries and modify his training regimen.
“Right now, I need to take the necessary time to concentrate on my injuries, allowing them to regain strength so I can feel like myself again,” Hill explained. “I haven’t felt like myself for a considerable period. I haven`t been able to do the activities I enjoy. I haven`t run since the injury; there`s just a feeling, perhaps, that I can’t, or the necessary leg strength isn`t there. This absolutely must change. I have to alter the level of effort I`m willing to put in, the intensity I apply to my preparation. I`m competing against the world`s elite at a championship caliber, and I need to live up to that standard.”
He concluded, “I plan to take some time off, a short period, to return to my optimal state and become the exciting, dominant champion I know I can be.”
Upon hearing the judges` scorecards after the Rountree fight, Hill seemed somewhat taken aback. He later clarified that his main issue was with two judges scoring it 50-45, which he felt didn`t accurately represent the competitive nature of the match. He also reportedly exchanged words with Rountree post-fight concerning the fight`s pace, though they apparently resolved the disagreement without further issues.
Reflecting on the contest, Hill emphasized that Rountree deserves credit for his performance.
“Congratulations to Khalil Rountree on his victory and entering the top 5,” said Hill. “He’s shown a lot of hunger and has worked incredibly hard. He aimed to position himself for another title opportunity, and this win allows him to do that. He came in with a strategy to target my legs, and he consistently adhered to it throughout the fight.”
“The fight was perhaps less exciting than I anticipated,” he commented. “I expected more engagement and for him to press forward, leading to a more significant fight, a better spectacle, a stronger performance. However, the responsibility is mine to go in and compel opponents to fight the kind of match I want. That didn`t occur in this instance.”
